The Time-Lapse of Routine

In our quest for progress, we structure our lives around routine. Repetition leads to growth and consistency compounds effort’s rewards. But habit, termed the “great deadener” by Samuel Beckett, propels life forward in a time-lapse blur. How many years slip away on autopilot? Moments become epochs, marked by personal zeitgeists, appreciated only in retrospect.

Triggered by sensory mementos, Proustian epiphanies evoke nostalgia. We are at once struck by a sentimental longing for what has passed and reminded of life’s ephemerality. “That took place,” we acknowledge. “For better or worse, that chapter is forever etched onto ledger of the spacetime continuum.” Somehow, for it to have existed at all feels meaningful.

The “Appreciation = Good Life” Conundrum

Across cultures and philosophies, sages agree that appreciation is fundamental to a life well-lived. This is perhaps the only thing they all agree on. So why is it so damn hard to live appreciatively?

Like the rich kid, unable to appreciate his abundance of toys, we too are spoiled by time. Change occurs every zeptosecond. Unfortunately, our primate perception is not optimized for observing it. It’s like trying to notice our hair growth in real time. We take the present for granted because it feels eternal.

At its core, appreciation is comparative. We are appreciative of that which we know what it is like to be without. Someone might take their legs for granted until they are in a motorcycle accident. If they regain the ability to walk after a year of rehabilitation, they will be deeply appreciative of the simple act of walking down the street. Studies have shown that people diagnosed with life-threatening diseases report increased appreciation for life itself. Many who survive near death experiences come out of it with a sense of urgency to live to the fullest.

Playing Mind Games with Yourself

This glitch in our perception of time carries serious ramifications. Unlocking the best versions of ourselves requires a sensitivity to impermanence that doesn’t come naturally and is often uncomfortable to confront. Cells split, tectonic plates move, but we require a cancer diagnosis or an earthquake to realize this.

As a second-order emotional state, the appreciative disposition cannot be directly invoked. We must first topple the domino of scarcity in the mind, setting off the chain reaction that leads us to it. Meditating on the universal inherent transience unveils the hidden gems in even the most ordinary moments.

The Stoics, practicing premeditatio malorum, engaged in an exercise where they contemplated all the potential hardships that might come their way - no matter how horrific. Seneca explains, “Rehearse them in your mind: exile, torture, war, shipwreck. All the terms of our human lot should be before our eyes.”

Admittedly, this may sound somewhat bleak. Who truly wants to envision being stretched on the rack while sipping their morning coffee? The objective isn't to be disheartened but rather to cultivate appreciation. So, how do we approach it?

Counting Down from a Billion

As the amphora of life dries up, what remains is the raw concentrate – a potent elixir if sipped without fear. It infuses each moment with the overwhelming appreciation of holding a loved one’s hand during their final breaths.

As Ian Fleming wrote, “You only live twice – once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.” But this goes beyond memento mori; it is memento finiti (remember finiteness). Keeping it in mind begets a longing for the present moment as if it were already lost. We can know we are living a specific, finite chapter in our lives while actively experiencing it. That is how we appreciate it.

One day, there will be a last dance, a final time petting your dog, cradling your child, smelling a rose, hearing a friend’s voice. Each instance deducts one from the total allotment. With everything, imagine the counter go down. One less… one less…

Humans have approximately 1.5 billion heartbeats. Rather than viewing the heart as maintaining life ad infinitum, feel the clock in your chest ticking down the remaining moments in your human experience. Each heartbeat brings you closer to that final one. This countdown began the day you were born. Life is gradual process of letting go, so slow as to be imperceptible unless you really pay attention. Now, pay attention.